The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office activated PHASE I of its reopening plan for its administrative offices this week, and has decided to amend its hours of operation, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Effective today (May 19), the administrative offices, located at #2 Courthouse Square in Chalmette, will be open to residents weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The following services will be available throughout PHASE I at the administrative offices during these hours:

Payment of sales and property taxes
Payment of fines and traffic tickets
Purchase of police reports
Purchase of occupational licenses

During PHASE I, the Sheriff’s Office will NOT be conducting vehicle inspections, releasing property or performing criminal history checks.

The following rules will apply to persons entering the administrative office building:

1. Persons must allow a non-touch temperature check to be conducted. Persons with a body temperature below 100.4 will be allowed to sign in and receive a visitor’s badge. At this time, they will be allowed into the administrative offices via elevator (ONE RIDER AT A TIME). Persons with a body temperature over 100.4 will not be allowed into the building.

2. Persons entering the building must use hand sanitizer before entering. There will be a dispenser located at the entrance.

3. Persons entering the building must wear a protective mask that covers their nose and mouth at all times. You may provide your own mask or one will be provided to you.

4. Persons waiting in line to enter the administrative offices or to be serviced at the second floor window must adhere to 6-feet social distancing rules. All floors and waiting areas will be marked.

5. The restrooms at the administrative building will not be open to the public.

6. Only people having actual business with the Sheriff’s Office may enter the building.

Due to the above guidelines being strictly enforced, Sheriff Pohlmann cautions visitors they may encounter lines while awaiting being cleared to enter the building. With that in mind, the Sheriff said, the wearing of masks and maintaining 6-feet of space between all people, with the exception of immediate family, will also apply outside in the parking areas.

While the administrative offices will be open during these amended hours, Sheriff Pohlmann encourages residents to help in the fight against spreading Coronavirus by accessing the above services online, rather than doing so in person.

All of the services listed above can be handled online by visiting www.sbso.org and selecting the appropriate link located on the left hand side of the main page.

Only St. Bernard Parish sales and property taxes and citations issued in St. Bernard that individuals have NOT YET gone to court for can be paid on the website.

The Sheriff also reminds residents there also is a drop box at the front entrance to the building for after-hours use.